Railway-car truck.



PATENTBD JAN. 30, 1906.

J. M. HOPKINS. RAILWAY CAR TRUCK. APPLIGATIQN FILED JUNE 5.190s.

JAMES M. HOPKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-CAR TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

Application filed June 5, 1905. Serial No. 263,708.

To all whom, it ina l cancer-11,:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Car Trucks, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of cartruck; and the invention consists in the features of novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section on line 1 1 of Fig. 2 through the bolster, springplank, side frames, &c., of a car-truck embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, through my improved truck. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, showing the central portion of one of the side frames of the truck and the parts in position for use therein.

The side frames A and A of the truck may be formed of steel in any approved manner, and each of these side frames is provided with a central opening a, the walls of these side openings a serving to retain in position the parts within the openings. Through the lower portion of the openings a in the side framesA and A extend the ends of the springplank or transom B. As shown, the spring plank B is formed of a channel-bar of steel or iron, and upon the end portions of the springplank B rest the spring-supporting plates C, whereon the groups of springs D are sustained. As shown, these spring-supporting plates C are formed with slightly-raised portions 0, through which pass the retainingbolts E, that extend through the springs D, the upper ends of these bolts E passing through retaining-plates C whereon rest the spring-caps F. Each of the spring-caps F is formed with outwardly-projecting flanges or ribsf, that engage the walls or pillars a at the sides of the square frameopenings at, these ribs or flangesf serving to interlock the spring caps F with the frames A and A.

Upon each of the spring-caps F rests one end. of the bolster G, the ends of this bolster projecting through the upper portions of the openings (1, in the side frames A and A. The

bolster G may be of steel, and preferably for greater strength the bolster is provided with a central rib 9, extending from end to end thereof.

In order to securely interlock the bolster G with the spring-caps F, each end of the bolster G is provided with a downwardly-projecting flange g,that engages the subjacent spring-cap.

When the parts are to be assembled, the springplank B will be set in position, as shown, after which the ends of the bolster G will be placed within the upper portion of the openings a of the side frames. Then the spring-caps F will be placed diagonally within the square openings 0 of the side frames, with the ribs or flangesf in position to engage the walls or pillars a of the side frames, and the spring-caps Fwill then be brought to horizontal position against the under sides of the ends of the bolster. As the spring-caps F are thus brought to horizontal position the ribs or flanges f will lie upon opposite sides of the walls or pillars a and thus guard the spring-caps F against movement. The springs D will then be compressed and with the plates C will be placed in position for use, as shown in the drawings. Inasmuch as the spring-caps F are thus interlocked with the side frames A and A and inasmuch as the flanged ends of the transom G engage the spring-caps F, the several parts will be securely held against accidental displacement, while allowing sufficient yield to compensate for the strains and shocks to which the trucks are inevitably subjected.

It Will thus be seen that with my improved truck the parts can be simply and cheaply made and readily assembled and when in position for use will provide a most effective and durable construction. Moreover, when repairs are to be made or parts replaced the parts of the truck may be easily removed for such purpose.

It is manifest that the precise details of construction above set out may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A car-truck comprising side frames having openings therein, spring-planks with springs thereon, spring-caps interlocked with said side frames and an integral bolster projeoting through the openings of the side of said side frames surrounding'said openings frames and having its ends flanged or offset being formed integral, spring-planks with 15 to engage said spring-caps. springs thereon, spring-caps interlocked with 2. A ear-truck comprising side frames havsaid side frames and an integral bolster pro- 5 ing openings therein, spring-planks With jecting through the openings of the side springs thereon, spring-caps interlocked With frames and having its ends provided with said side frames and an integral bolster pro downwardly-projecting flanges engaging said 20 jecting through the openings of the side spring-caps.

frames and having its ends provided with 1o downwardly-projecting flanges engaging said JAMES HOPKINS spring-caps. Witnesses 3. A car-truck comprising metal side KATHARINE GERLAOH,

frames having openings therein, the portions LILLIAN PRENTIGE. 

